Department of Public Works
Traffic and Transportation Planning Division
SPEED HUMP/CUSHION PROGRAM PACKAGE
Updated by City Council 2/27/2024
Speed Hump/Cushion Program
2 On July 13, 2010, the City of Santa Clarita (City) City Council adopted procedures and policies to allow the placement of speed humps/cushions on City-maintained roads. Speed humps/cushions are designed to discourage speeding. Speed cushions have gaps or “cutouts” that enable large emergency vehicles to pass through without the need to reduce their speed and are the preferred method for City installation.
On residential streets that experience excessive speed – where 85% of drivers drive at least five miles per hour (mph) over the speed limit, or 30 mph or greater – studies have shown that speed humps/cushions decrease the 85th percentile speed by 4-6 mph.
Speed Humps/Cushions Requirements
A Homeowners Association (HOA) or property owner living on the subject street interested in having speed cushions installed must submit a Speed Hump/Speed Cushion Request Form to the City.
To be eligible for consideration of speed humps/cushions, a residential street must:
• Have a speed limit of 25 mph,
• Be at least 500 feet long, among other physical requirements (see page 4), • Have at least 1,500 vehicles using it every day,
• 85% of drivers must travel at 30 mph or greater, as observed during a City-conducted traffic study, and
• 67% of property owners on the subject street must support installation of speed cushions, based on a City-conducted survey.
Requesting Speed Cushions
The Speed Hump/Speed Cushion Request Form (see page 7) can be sent to the City’s Traffic and Transportation Division by email at [email protected] or mail:
City of Santa Clarita
Traffic and Transportation Planning Division
23920 Valencia Blvd., Suite 300
Santa Clarita, CA 91355
Property owners can also submit a virtual form at SantaClarita.gov/RSC.
This Speed Hump/Cushion Program Packet will provide detailed information on request procedures and street criteria, address frequently asked questions, and includes the Speed Hump/Speed Cushion Request Form.
For additional information, contact the Traffic Division at (661) 255-4942.
Speed Hump/Speed Cushion Program
3 Procedures for Installing Speed Cushions
1. A Homeowners Association (HOA) or individual property owner that believes the residents on their street will support the installation of speed humps/speed cushions must submit a Speed Hump/Speed Cushion Study request Form to the City (see page 7).
2. City staff will conduct a formal evaluation, including collecting traffic speed and volume measurements and reviewing the traffic accident history for the subject street (see Street Criteria on page 4). Staff will also consult with the Sheriff’s Department, Fire Department and Transit Division. (Note: City shall use speed and volume data to determine limits of affected property owners.)
3. If the required minimum street criteria for speed humps/speed cushions are met, the City will send a survey form to all abutting property owners on the subject street as determined by the traffic survey. Each survey form received back by the City must contain full name, address, and signature of the property owner. Any survey form with incomplete information is subject to rejection. If no response is received from an address, City staff will make at least two attempts on separate days to contact the property owner.
4. At least 67% of the abutting property owners on the subject street, as determined by the traffic survey, must support installation of speed cushions. Upon verification of the survey, the HOA or property owners will be notified in writing of the results of the survey.
5. If the subject street meets both the minimum street criteria and property owner support, the subject street will be added to the City’s speed cushion priority list.
6. Based on available funding and approval by the City Council, the City will proceed with installation of speed humps/speed cushions.
Speed Cushion Process Flowchart
City conducts traffic
evaluation
YES: City conducts
property owner survey
Does street meet
criteria?
NO: HOA or property
owner notified that
street is not eligible
Do 67% of property
owners support
installation?
NO: HOA or property
owner notified of
insufficient support
City Council approves
speed cushion
installation
Speed cushion
installed
HOA or property owner
submits request to City
YES: Location added
to City’s speed
cushion priority list
Speed Hump/Speed Cushion Program
4 Street Criteria for Speed Cushion Installation
1. Street Type: The street must have a 25 mph speed limit and meet the definition of a “Residence District,” where there are at least 13 homes on one side of the street or 16 homes on both sides of the street within a quarter-mile (California Vehicle Code § 515).
2. Traffic Volume: Street shall have a minimum daily volume of 1,500 vehicles.
3. Traffic Speeds: A speed survey conducted by the City shall demonstrate that 85% of drivers travel at 30 mph or more (the 85th percentile speed is greater than 30 mph).
4. Street Length: Street shall have a minimum length of 500 feet.
5. Street Width: Street shall have only one lane in each direction.
6. Street Grade: Street shall not exceed an average sustained grade of six percent.
7. Request: Speed Hump/Speed Cushion Request Form must come from a Homeowners Association (HOA) or a property owner on the subject street.
8. Petition: At least two-thirds of the affected property owners (abutting properties) on the subject street shall vote in favor of the speed hump/speed cushion.
9. Parallel Streets: Speed hump/speed cushion installation should not cause diversion of traffic to other residential streets, to the satisfaction of the City Traffic Engineer.
10. Other Physical Considerations: Other physical characteristics that may limit the feasibility of speed hump/speed cushions on a particular street include locations of driveways, locations of access covers to underground utilities, locations of catch basins and other drainage structures, existing drainage issues or difficulties, and visibility for safe stopping distance from speed hump/speed cushion.
11. Removal Policy: The removal of any speed cushion or series of speed cushions shall be based on a two-thirds vote of affected property owners (abutting properties) on the subject street. No property owner initiated removals shall be considered within 36 months after speed cushion installation to allow sufficient time for the speed cushions to have the desired traffic-calming effect.
Speed Hump/Speed Cushion Program
5 Frequently Asked Questions
What is a speed cushion?
Speed cushions in the City typically consist of three-to-four raised mounds that are similar to traditional speed humps in that they are designed to discourage speeding. Speed cushions allow emergency vehicles to pass through freely and can have less of an impact on bicyclists and motorcyclists than speed humps.
Are speed cushions effective?
Speed humps/cushions have been
shown to reduce the speed of vehicles
on residential streets. Studies indicate
the 85th percentile speed (the speed at
which 85% of all vehicles travel)
decreased 4 to 6 miles per hour after
speed humps/cushions were installed.
Will a speed cushion affect emergency
response times to my home?
No, speed cushions are designed to have
a negligible impact on emergency
vehicle access. Emergency vehicles can
pass over the speed cushions at or near
the speed limit.
Can speed cushions be installed on any street?
Speed humps/cushions are not intended for use on all streets. They are permitted on residential streets maintained by the City that have a minimum length of 500 feet, posted or prima facie speed limit of 25 mph, daily traffic volume of at least 1,500 vehicles, and do not exceed a sustained grade of six percent. Streets that meet this criteria will be evaluated by City staff to determine if traffic volumes warrant speed cushion installation.
Who can request speed cushions? What does the process look like?
An individual property owner with an address on the subject street or the HOA that governs the subject street can submit a Speed Hump/Cushion Study Request Form for speed hump consideration. After the City receives the request, City staff will evaluate if the subject street meets the physical and traffic criteria for speed cushions, and if met, will determine and survey affected property owners abutting the subject street. With two-thirds support for speed cushions from surveyed property owners on the subject street, the street will be listed on the City’s speed cushion priority list, with installation subject to funding and City Council approval.
Speed Hump/Speed Cushion Program
6 Who pays for the traffic study, property owner survey, and installation of speed cushions?
The City is responsible for all costs associated with studying, surveying, and installing speed cushions and is also responsible for the ongoing maintenance of the speed cushions.
How do I know if my neighbors will be interested in having speed cushions installed?
If you observe a large number of vehicles speeding on your street, your neighbors may share your concerns. Some neighbors may be opposed to speed cushions for the following reasons:
• The additional traffic signs, street painting, and speed cushions detract from the appearance of the neighborhood.
• Parking on some areas of the street may be limited due to placement of the speed cushions. • Some drivers may speed up between speed cushions to make up for perceived time lost. • Some residents report that noise levels increase with vehicles going over speed cushions.
I live on a private street – can I participate in this program?
The City does not have jurisdiction over private streets. This Speed Hump/Cushion Program only applies to residential streets that are maintained by the City and meet the street criteria defined on Page 4 of this packet. If you aren’t sure if you live on a private street, call the Traffic Division at (661) 255-4942.
Can speed cushions be removed?
Property owners on the subject street can request that speed cushions be removed. The City will conduct a survey, and with two-thirds agreement, will remove the speed cushions.
Note: No property owner initiated removals shall be considered within 36 months after speed cushion installation to allow sufficient time for the speed cushions to have the desired traffic- calming effect.
Speed Hump/Cushion Study Request Form
7 CITY USE ONLY
Eligible Not Eligible Initials: ______
The following is an application form to request speed humps/cushions. Each request must be made by the governing Homeowners Association (HOA) or an individual property owner on the subject street . The request will be processed in accordance to the City of Santa Clarita’s adopted Speed Hump/Cushion procedure.
Street Study Information
Each request must provide the name of the street or streets on which a study is requested and the boundaries of the street segment.
Requested Street: _____________________________________ Boundary Area: From: _____________________________To: ____________________________
Requested Street: _____________________________________ Boundary Area: From: _____________________________To: ____________________________
If more streets are requested, please attach a separate sheet.
City staff will make an i nitial determination of whether the street(s) requested is eligible for further consideration based on the City of Santa Clarita’s adopted Speed Hump/Cushion criteria. City staff retains the right to modify this request by either expanding or shortening th e boundary area as well as including neighboring streets not initially requested if it is found that traffic will be diverted as a resul t of placing speed humps/cushions on requested street(s).
Contact Information
Name: ____________________________________________
Address: ____________________________________________
Santa Clarita, CA Zip: ___________
Phone: ____________________________________________
Signature: ____________________________________________
Submission Options
Via mail: Via email:
City of Santa Clarita
Traffic and Transportation Planning Division
23920 Valencia Blvd., Suite 300
Santa Clarita, CA 91355
[email protected]
Online:
SantaClarita.gov/RSC
SPEED CUSHION MARKING DETAILNOT TO SCALE
14'
6'CONSTRUCTION NOTES:1.SPEED CUSHIONS SHALL BE 14' X 6' X 3"2.SPEED CUSHIONS SHALL BE INSTALLEDACROSS THE ROADWAY AS INDICATED ONCITY STANDARD PLAN 002-1.3.W17-1 "SPEED HUMP" SIGNS SHALL ONLY BEINSTALLED FOR STREET LOCATIONS WITH ASINGLE ROW OF SPEED CUSHIONS. INSTALLIN EACH DIRECTION AT LEAST 100' PRIOR TOTHE SINGLE SPEED CUSHION ROW.4.W84(CA) "SPEED HUMPS AHEAD" SIGNSSHALL BE INSTALLED FOR A SERIES OFSPEED CUSHION ROWS ALONG A STREETSEGMENT. INSTALL EACH SIGN AT LEAST100' PRIOR TO THE FIRST SPEED CUSHIONROW OF THE SERIES IN THE RESPECTIVEDIRECTION OF TRAVEL.5.W13-1P(15) ADVISORY SPEED PLAQUE SIGNSHALL BE INSTALLED TO SUPPLEMENTW17-1 OR W84(CA).MODULE DIMENSIONSWIDTH - 18" (+/- 116")LENGTH - 42" (+/- 18")THICKNESS - 3" (+/- 18")SPEED CUSHION SPECSWIDTH - 6'LENGTH - 14'HEIGHT - 3" MPH
PHYSICAL PROPERTIESMATERIAL - 100% RECYCLED SYNTHETIC AND NATURAL RUBBER COMPOSITETENSILE STRENGTH - MINIMUM 500PSISHORE HARDNESS - MINIMUM 70ASPECIFIC GRAVITY - 1.1MARKINGS - RUBBER MODULES ALL BLACK, BLACK WITH WHITE REFLECTIVESQUARE MARKINGS AND WHITE REFLECTIVE ARROW CHEVRONS SIGN LEGEND: